Officers step up patrols on Rutherford County's most dangerous road

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office said Highway 41-70 South is the most dangerous road in Rutherford County.

State traffic leaders said there were more than 300 crashes on Highway 41-70 S last year alone.

Michelle Gann and her family live on Highway 41-70 S, which has several names throughout the county. It's called NW Broad Street in Murfreesboro.

"It scares me to death that my kids go out there and drive, and then other people don't want to pay attention to them," Gann said. "I'm scared something bad is going to happen to them."

It's a fear shared by thousands of families who live or drive along what many call the 'Nashville Highway.'

"It's always concerning," Murfreesboro mother Paula Stewart said.

Stewart's son used to bike to MTSU along Highway 41.

"He informed me about how bad it is in the mornings to go that way and showed me his secret back way, which actually takes him longer but it's safer," Stewart said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol along with the LaVergne, Smyrna and Murfreesboro police departments are all increasing patrols on this road in hopes of reducing the number of injury and deadly crashes.

Tony Burnett with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office said Rutherford County is growing rapidly, and people are in a hurry.

"They drive too fast and one of the biggest contributing factors is following too closely, which is sometimes due to being distracted playing with the radio, being on the cell phone, not paying attention to people around them," Burnett said.

"If you're going to be driving, you need to make sure you pay attention to other drivers," Michelle Gann said.

Rutherford County parents like Gann ask that people put their phones down when behind the wheel.